Salmond has long said that Scotland would be able to support itself through the revenue it would make from oil. About a quarter of which, lies in the Islands waters.

Tavish Scott, the former Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, claimed in an interview on BBC Radio 2's Jeremy Vine programme that the island's were withholding on choosing independence as to get a better deal for themselves on the revenue from the oil.

Mr Scott and Liam McArthur, the Orkney MSP, submitted a report to the Government’s consultation on the referendum listing the islands constitutional options.

The SNP rebutted this, with Rob Gibson, the SNP MSP for Caithness, Sutherland and Ross, claiming that "Tavish is surely political trouble-making and is not making a serious negotiating position."

Mr Scott hit back at the 'trouble-maker' jibe with:“That’s Nationalist language for you. If you disagree with the SNP, then you get accused of worse most of the time."

Alex Salmond is expected to hold talks with MSP's representing Orkney and Shetland.